Latham supports Kohli on DRS issue

Kolkata Sep 29 (IANS) New Zealand opener Tom Latham on Thursday backed India captain Virat Kohli on using the Decision Review System (DRS) in the future, saying it would have benefited both teams had it been used in the ongoing series.

"We have had it in the past back home. It's a good system. When a major decision is caught incorrectly, then it helps. It's a thing we enjoy back home and would have been great had it been there," the 24-year-old told reporters at a media meet at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, a day ahead of the beginning of the second Test.

Latham, who scored a fifty in the first innings of the Kanpur Test, which his team lost by 197 runs, said they are trying hard to cope with the spin threat of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

"These are world class bowlers. They bowl a lot of overs in these conditions. And if we can take good decisions for a longer period of time while batting, hopefully we would be able to put up a good score on the board and if we are batting second can chase down a total," he said.

"He is a world class bowler. He has shown that in the last game. He has subtle natural variations with which hopefully we can cope better. We are trying to rectify our mistakes. For me personally, the straighter one troubles me the most. Hopefully I will be able to mend my problems in this game."

Kiwis' skipper and their best batsman Kane Williamson did not practice with the team on Thursday. Latham though said there is nothing to worry about that.

"It's nothing really. He is resting. He will be back on the field for the game."

Opener Martin Guptill's lean patch with the bat has been another concern for the visitors.

"He hasn't scored the amount of runs he wanted to. We all are working extremely hard in the nets and trying to rectify that for him and he himself is doing a lot," he said.

"He got a reasonably good start in the first innings of the last match. We all are worried. Let's hope he can do that (bat) for a longer period of time."

On the preparations ahead of the second Test, Latham said fatigue is a detrimental factor for the visitors, with most of the players not used to such sultry conditions.

"It is easier when you start. But as you go along it gets difficult as you tend to get dehydrated. The support staff has been brilliant for us running around with water. We need to bat for longer sessions in order to adjust."